The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-17
WEARY EUROPEAN TITANS.
Cost of Military and Naval Establish
ments OF Leading Powers.

European peace is becoming more expen-
sive than European warfare was in Napole-
on's time, France has expended during the
last sixteen years $4,000, 600 on her mill
tary establishments alone; and when the ma
val budgets are added an aggregate is OBJ
taincd which adequately explains the run
ming up of the national Indebtedness to near
ly $4,000, 100000. Germany during the same
period has extended $1,616,000.O0 upon its
army in addition to lavish outlay on the
feet The disparity between their own mill
tary budgets and those of France has thor
Uughly frightened General Won Moltke and
the German staff. They have determined an
increase of the active army from $4,000 to
46S,000 men. So anxious are they to obtain
at once Al, 600 additional soldiers and twenty
four new batteries of artillery that they have
antedated the septennial army bill.
This increase of the army ON a peace footing
involves additional financial burdens, when
the weight of the present ornaments is al
ready producing tremendous strain
France when compared with Germany is a
rich country, and better able to bear the
weight of military preparations on a large
scale; but the magnitude of the national
debt-the greatest in the memory of man
and the extravaganza of General BOulanger'S
outlay for war material are creating great
uneasiness among sober-ininded financiers
These rival nations are gradually exhaust
ing themselves in 0sasless preparations for
war during period Of profound peace.
The time is approaching when the issues of
European war or peace will be determined
largely by masses of capital and population
Military critics abroad have always sneered
at the military qualities displayed North and
south during the American civil conflict.
They have asserted that it was essentially a
war OF populations and Industrial resources
neither army was familiar with the princi-
pies OF military science; each side had to
learn how to fight, and the North eventually
won because 1t had greater industrial re-
sources and larger population from which
to recruit its decimated armies These cyni-
cal criticisms now recOil upon their authors
The question Of indefinitely maintaining
peace by converting every great nation into
vast barracks mas already become financial
and industrial problem. French finances
are In extreme disorder, German economists
are at their wits end to provide for the army
budgets impoverished Austria Hungary re-
luctantly votes Sl5,OOO,0O0 for Mauser rifles
| and extra military preparations; the Italian
treasury, protected by recent good managa-
ment, is now depleted by unexpected army
| expenses; and Russia, while constantly mass
| ing troops in Southeastern Europe cannot
induce the hothschilds or any contineDtalsyn-
dictate to look at the new loan on any terms
The pace at which the nations are riding to
war Is firing them out. The tremendous
| strain of military establishments on peace
footing Is becoming intolerable. Europe,
like weary Titan, is sinking underits arina-
ments. Which nation in the circle Of armed
camps will be the first to give out?
In ike manner the question of ultimate
| success In war may come in time to be decid
| ed by the census tables. Even if the powers
| can go on year after year arming and recuit-
| ing and have money or credit left for adding
| to their present establishments, when they
take the field the issue must rest with the
heaviest battalions. The military systems of
| every capital mark the perfection of science !;
| an improved arm adopted in one country is
introduced throughout the continent, and the
| art Of war is to-day the best-known trade in
Europe. Where there is equal science on
both sides campaign must become a war of
| population Where is the lowest birth rate
and the smallest increase of population for
furnishing new enlistments of conscripts I?
That nation is entering upon period of mil
itary decline. Every decade it becomes
| weaker. The census tables reveal the hol-
| lowness of its war budgets and standing
| armies.-tNew York Tribune